"How sweet."

Hades flinched at the familiar voice, spinning around as the one person he never wanted to see strode forwards, a familiar figure in his grasp.

"Zeus! I- "

His older brother tightened his grip on Meg, as the woman hissed and kicked at him.

"So, you're trying to find my son's weakness out of some… misguided power play?"

Hades clenched his fists at the patronising tone, "You're the one who keeps trying to reduce my role as Lord of the Underworld, down to nothing! What am I meant to do?! Just sit back and let you like Poseidon does?"

Thunder rumbled overhead.

"So, you want to be King? Is that it?" Zeus growled.

"No! I just wanted to be your equal!"

Both Meg and Zeus looked a little stunned at the outburst, before a look of anger flashed across, Zeus's face, as he threw Meg to the ground and stormed over to his brother pinning the vulnerable mortal form to a wall.

"You cross the line little brother… but maybe you can help."

"… Help with what?"

Zeus beamed, the vicious attitude from a few moments ago having disappeared, "Just play along, okay?" And then the frown was back, "Or all this freedom that you seem to get as Lord of the Underworld will magically disappear."

The flower in Hades's hand wilted and died.

…..

Hercules sighed in relief when Phil finally finished his lecture.

Like it wasn't enough that Hercules snuck out, but Phil had almost been knocked off Pegasus because of Hercules's daydreaming.

The satyr was on a warpath, and without his stamina, Hercules honestly didn't think he'd have lasted as long as he did.

Pegasus had disappeared off somewhere, probably not wanting to hear Phil rant for any longer. And honestly, Hercules was tempted to do the same.

"Fifty more laps of this course!" Phil ordered, "Only when you're done, can you go home." He headed over to the bench and settled down, probably to watch and make sure that Hercules would to as he was told.

He was asleep after the tenth run.

On his twentieth run around the course, Hercules heard a familiar voice speak up from the entrance.

"And here I hoped he would actually train you."

Spinning around, Hercules frowned as Zeus strode towards him. "Father… what are you doing here?"

"I just wanted to talk." Zeus held up his hands and gave his son a winning smile, "I know I hurt you last time, but I think I have a way to give you the push that you need."

"A… push?"

Hercules tensed up as his Father came over and placed a hand on his shoulders, "Hear me out…" The older man begged, "… I want you to join us on Mount Olympus, I really do, but none of this seems to be working. You're not actually in any danger, you're just… going through the motions."

"No, I- "

"- So, I think some time without your powers may do you the world of good."

Hercules frowned and yanked himself free, taking several steps back from his Father. "That doesn't sound like you're helping me. That doesn't sound like you're helping me at all."

He turned to leave, only to hear Zeus chuckle behind him.

"Well, I have a little something that might change your mind. Give you a little more incentive as it were." The God clicked his fingers, and Aides appeared out of nowhere, a look of panic on his face.

"Aides!"

"Hercules! Don't trust- "He was gagged as chains wrapped around his entire body, falling to the floor and disappearing before Hercules could get to him.

"LET HIM GO!" Hercules growled, charging at his father, only to be knocked to the ground like he was nothing. He glanced over at Phil and frowned when he realised that the satyr was still fast asleep.

"Don't worry, he's not going to bother us." Zeus waved his hand in dismissal, "So, this is my idea…" He acted as though Hercules hadn't moved, "… you give up your powers for the next twenty-four hours." He clicked his fingers as a gagged Aides appeared somewhere else, "Your new… friend will be free, and you will have the chance to prove you can be a true hero, agreed?"

The God had a beaming grin on his face, like nothing was wrong with the situation.

Hercules could only stare at him in shock, glancing over at Aides who was frantically shaking his head. "Promise you won't hurt him." He whispered, blood running cold in his veins.

He'd heard the stories about the Gods, and their vindictive ways.

"Promise me he'll be safe from any harm."

Zeus thought to himself for a few moments, almost seeming amused by the question. "Alright." He smirked over at Aides, "If he gets mortally injured in the next twenty-four hours, then all your powers will be returned to you."

"… Deal."

Zeus beamed, before clapping his hands together, a bright light filling the air. Both Aides and Hercules grunted in shock, with Hercules falling to his knees soon after.

It felt his very life was being sucked from his body, bones seeming to turn to jelly as he collapsed to the ground weakly.

As he tried to get to his feet, Hercules winced as his knees wobbled dangerously under him.

"Don't worry son." Zeus smiled reassuringly at him, "You might feel a little queasy, it's perfectly natural. Sit down, don't strain yourself just yet."

Hercules didn't have the strength to argue.

With a wave of his hands, the chains disappeared from around Aides, as the man gasped for breath. "What did you do?" He asked Zeus, his own legs wobbling dangerously before he took a seat, "What did you do?"

"Aides?" Hercules whispered weakly, eyes widening as his Father made his way over to the other man, an amused smile on his face.

"Don't worry." The God stated, "You still have a little juice left in you." He grabbed Aides by the arm and pulled him closer, ignoring how both Aides and Hercules cried out in protest. "Don't worry son, he'll be back soon."

"No! Father!" Hercules tried to make his way over, only for Zeus and Aides to disappear in a flash of light.

"NO!"

…..

"You've drained me!" Hades snarled, feeling like he was going to pass out at any moment, "You can't just make me mortal like that, I- "

"- Calm down." Zeus snapped as the chariot headed out to open ocean, "You're not completely mortal, and you have some of your powers, don't you worry about that."

"Why- "

"I just need you for this, and then you can go back to Hercules… maybe tell him the truth."

"You- "

Up in the sky, the planets all aligned, sending a burst of cosmic energy straight down to the earth, causing a large whirlpool in the ocean. Peeking over the edge of the chariot, Hades felt sick at the sight of the eyes, and the red eyes glaring up at them, roars and shrieks echoing throughout the area.

"I don't want this anymore." He shook his head, "You're crazy! What will this prove?!"

"It will prove that Hercules is ready." Zeus gestured down at the bars, "Open it. You have just enough power left to do that. After that, you'll be as mortal as you can be."

"Zeus, you- "

"OPEN IT!"

Hades closed his eyes, summoning up what little strength he had as he opened up the prison.

"Wonderful." Zeus beamed, "Now, I have to get back to Mount Olympus for the attack. Say hello to Hercules for me."

"Brother." Hades leaned heavily against the side of the chariot. "I don't want this… why are you doing this?!"

Zeus frowned, "Because I want my son back Hades. It's only far you should suffer a bit for this… right?"

Before Hades could answer, Zeus snapped his fingers and he disappeared with a flash of light.

As the Titans climbed out of the ocean, Zeus shifted into the form of his brother, watching in amusement.

One made of rocks and boulders, "CRUSH HIM!"

One made if snow and ice, "FREEZE HIM!"

One made of molten lava, "MELT… ZEUS!"

And finally, one that was a giant tornado, "BLOW… HIM…. AWAY!"

Zeus just waved in the direction of Olympus, hidden behind the image of his brother.

"ZEUS!"

"FREEZE HIM!"

As the Titans headed off, Zeus caught sight of the cyclops trailing on behind. "Hold it!" He called out, trying to mimic his brother's… unique way of speaking, "I've got a special job for you!"

….

"Hermes! Hermes!"

Hermes groaned at the loud voice next to his ear, followed by a rumbling that seemed to echo throughout Olympus. "M-my lord? What's- "

"ZEUS!"

"DESTROY HIM!"

"The Titans are coming to attack, what are you just doing lying around?! SOUND THE ALARM! LAUNCH AN IMMEDIATE COUNTER-ATTACK! GO! GO!"

"I'm gone! I'm gone!"

Receiving bolts from Hephaestus, Zeus threw them at the Earthquake Titan, shattering a part of it, watching as the Tornado Titan started to suck some of the other Gods into its arms, chariots, winged horses and all.

Everything was going according to plan.

….

"HERCULES! WHERE ARE YOU?"

The cyclops knocked into buildings and smashed tribute statues in its fury.

"HERCULES! COME OUT AND PLAY!"

Hades, who still felt like passing out, watched from his crumpled position on the streets as the cyclops got closer and closer.

He couldn't move.

Zeus could have sent him somewhere safe, but oh no! He had to send him right into the path of danger.

Oh well… maybe this way Hercules would get his powers back sooner.

As he closed his eyes, ready to accept his fate, he heard a desperate scream from his right.

"AIDES! AIDES!"

Hades turned, eyes widening at the sight of Hercules running towards him. "What do you think you're doing?!" He yelled, as Hercules weakly helped him to his feet and started to pull him to safety, "Without your strength and powers, you'll be killed!"

"I'm not going to let you die here!"

"You don't understand though, I need to- "

"THE MIGHTY HERCULES!"

Aides yelped, as two giant fingers grabbed Hercules and lifted him into the air, leaving himself to be dropped the ground, watching as Hercules was thrown straight into a nearby billboard.

He had to do something… but he couldn't move at all.

…..

"Where's the boss?!" Panic … well, panicked, and they popped into the training stadium, "First Meg disappears and now the boss is gone as well!"

"Can you feel him?" Pain asked, referring to the connection they had with Hades.

"No! That's why I'm this close to completely freaking out!"

Hearing clanking coming from another room, they rushed over, throwing open the doors to see a winged horse roped to the ground and-

"- MEG!" "MEG!" The pair cried out in glee, running over and untying her, taking a step back as she leapt to her feet.

"Untie the horse."

They rushed to do as they were told, before they all headed out. They could hear the chaos from the city, spotting a satyr sleeping in the stands.

"I know something bad is happening." Meg snapped, making her way over to the sleeping satyr, "And I can bet Wonder boy and Hades are at the centre of it."

The Titans were getting higher and higher, closer and closer to the gates of Olympus.

"GET BACK! I COMMAND YOU!" Zeus ordered, throwing another bolt at the Earthquake Titan, knowing that it would have no effect. With a mighty grunt, a boulder was thrown at the golden gates and they crumpled, falling to the ground and allowing the rest of the Titans accessed.

"ZEUS!"

….

"WAKE UP!"

Phil yelped at the sudden pain in his cheek, eyes flying open as he stared up at the gorgeous women staring down at him.

"Well…" he smirked, "… I had a really good night."

"Ugh." The woman rolled her eyes and took a step back, "Get up. Hercules needs your help."

"What?!" Phil glanced around, noticing that Hercules was, indeed, not where he had last seen him, "He needs help? He has super strength! He's defeated everything that he's come across!"

"And yet there's still a monster breaking Thebes."

It was then that Phil seemed to finally hear the screaming from outside the stadium.

"What the- "

….

"I NEED MORE THUNDERBOLTS!" Zeus called out, despite knowing that Hephaestus had been captured long ago.

Hermes shook his head in desperation, "Hephaestus has been captured! Everyone's been captured! I've been captured!"

Watching as Hermes was pulled away, Zeus spun around, only to come face to face with the Volcano Titan, who spewed lava all over him, with the Ice Titan freezing it as it got harder and harder to get out of.

Any minute now.

Hercules grunted and groaned as the cyclops kicked him up into the air, flicking him into a nearby building…. Which was hilarious to the cyclops.

"Hercules! Hercules!" Aides cried out from the ground, rushing over to where Hercules had landed, eyes widening as Pegasus landed next to him, Phil leaping off the back of him and running over as well.

"Phil? Aides?" Hercules frowned in confusion at the others all crowded around him, "And… Ma'am and Sirs?"

"Sirs!" Panic beamed, "I like this one."

"Shut up!" Phil snapped at him, before turning back to Hercules, "What happened? How- "

"- Zeus." Hercules groaned, "He took all my powers. Apparently, this will help."

"You let him take your strength away?!"

When Hercules glanced over at Aides, Phil rolled his eyes. "Nevermind. You can take this guy though, look at him, he's a pushover, barely two brain cells to rub together!"

"He's right." Aides spoke up, "You just have to use your head this time, not your strength…. And I don't mean that in the literal sense this time."

Before Hercules could answer, footsteps caused the ground to quiver violently underneath them as a giant hand reached down and lifted him into the air, until he was eye to eye with the cyclops.

"ME, BITE OFF HEAD!"

Thinking quickly, Hercules lashed out with both fists, punching the cyclops in the eyes, causing it to cry out in pain and drop Hercules. Thankfully, he landed on something soft.

"You two." Hades hissed in Pain and Panic's ears, "Get that rope and give it to Hercules."

"But I thought- "

"- Don't think, just do!"

….

Hercules frowned as the two creatures handed him some rope. "Ummm, what do you- "

They were gone before he could finish.

The cyclops was getting closer.

Thinking quickly, Hercules charged at the cyclops and wrapped the roped tightly around its legs, before pulling it taunt. With a desperate cry of fear, the cyclops toppled off the edge of the cliff and just like that… it was all over.

The adrenaline leaving his body in a rush, Hercules fell to his knees unaware that he was still in danger.

"Hercules!"